Automatic photographing and developing apparatus



June 14, 1949. R. w. DART ETAL AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOPINGAPPARATUS Filed April 4, 1946 2 ShebS-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 'RODGER ,W/LLIANDART SYDNEY JENKINS TORNEY June 14, 1949. w, DART ,ETAL I 2,473,280

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHING AND DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed April 4, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 2 T TORNE Y Patented June 14, 1949 AUTOMATIC.PHOTOGR'APHING AND DEVELOPING APPARWIUS iRodger William Dart,Essondale,.British Columzbia, (and Sydney Jenkins, Vancouver, British.Columbia, .Canada, assignors "to "International .MutoscopeCorporation,LongIsl-an'd City,'-N. 11,

a corporation .Applicationinprild, 1946,..Serial No. 659,520

1'6 "Claims. .1 v

:Our invention relates to improvements-in photographic machines, suchasthose employed for automatically :exposing ta paper photographic plate,developing, [processing "and washing it, and deliveringsaidxplateaaszagpositive xtOlihB .purchaser in responseitostartingmovement oil the machine through the operation of a coin 'operatedilock.

The-obj ectsoizthezmachine;arerto provide means whereby =the sensitized:plate :is :moved :continuously Ffrom starting position; to provide foran instantaneous flash :to' take {place :at the ':appro-' priate :momentwhen the plate is being moved transversely of :.its I focal plane'ithroug'hthe camera; to progressivelydevelop,all/ash,bleach, washclear, wash, redevlon: and wash said :plate .prior to ejectionor'delivery -to .the sitter, and:.to pick up an unexposedqila-te ready forthe next exposure. A further objectis to provide a:plate:supply'system'whereby "moreth-a-n one plate magazine may beemployedan'd whereza full magazine maybe automatically brought into serviceposit-ion subsequent-to the employing of another.

Referring -to the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevational 'view of =themachine with" the side wall of the "cabinet removed, taken on the line"I I of "Figure 'r2.

Fig.j'2'is"a .plan'view-taken on-the-line 1-4 of Figure '1.

Fig. 31is a detailvi-ewof the plate receiving and developing tray.

Fig.4 is .a detail view-takenon the lined-:4 of

Figure 1 showingthe base of a-magazine partly mounting ,of. the trays.

.In .the drawings .like characters .of reference.indicate.correspondingparts .in. each. figure.

.The numeral J ;-indicates.generally. a. cabinetv in .which the.photographicmachine i2 is completely enclosed, itisprovided with afront wall 3having a rectangular exposure @openin -4 ,..si.de walls .5

.and. a .rear ,wall 6 and a partial thorizontal partition I extendingacross it above the path of the undeveloped plates .to (exclude .lightadmitted through oneusideandvthe "rear walls 5 iand .6 -.re-

spectively throughia viewingwindowtB. "A recess I0 is formed behind theopening 4 with-enclosing walls I I and ..a zmirror :or-.r,eiiector=screen 1'! extending between .said walls rat iamangleof-.-fortyfive degrees ::to. reflect ltheiimage of rthe sitter; who

deliver solution,onto-z .-..disk 2.1 is provided:with-apomplementaryannular rim .5 I having an 1 inclined iace ground .to fitithe 2 would beappropriately seated before the recess '10 prior "to and during the timeof exposure. A "camerabody -M is 'provided'below the partition [1 andextends downwardly there-belowto approximately 'the "focal plane of :thelens 1-5.

"Suitably suspended "from an upper support -ll is'abearingin'whichavertical shaft-l8 is-mounted, whichushaftisrotatableatappropriate speed through a combined motor "and reduction gear '20,which motor combination is secured tothe said support ll. The "shaft"i'8 'extends through a circular disk .21 which isprovided wit-hone-ormore lugs '22 which ;.slida'bly. engage vertical pins '23, one onlyshown, which are carried from the horizontal partition :1 to hold saiddisk nonrotatable,but to leave it ireetcmove downincidental to wear ofthe underside of said'disk. vThe lower end of the shaft is journalle'din a step hearing '25 and is fitted with an elongated hub "21 having anupper iflangeTZBnpon which acircular table .29 is secured. .A spring.,may beprovided around .the upper part of the shaft [8 betweenthehousingofthe. motorlll andthe disk to ensure proper -.w.atertightengagement .between the table Hand the disk 2|. Extending fromoppositesides of theelongatedhub .Z'Lare .two .r-adial arms .33, each ofwhichisfitted at its .onterend @with a rocking sleeve .ifisupportingatray 35. The sleeve ,is notched as atiianda pin.3'l.is.provided in-the.arm to engage the sides. of the notch to limittits rocking movement. Aspring .38 surrounds the inner .end of the zsleeveandis anchoredlto boththe. sleeve andthe -arm ,in theusual way-toretu'rn the -trayttohorizontal; position after bein tilted.

The tray .is provided with an upstanding-arm.

"by which it is tilted rat appropriate intervals to spill itscontent ofliquid and is provided with :a downwardly projecting arm l Lhaving-aforwardly curvedP rtion=42-at1its lower extremitytfor tilting the-trayin excess 20f -.ninety-.degrees to discharge the ,platecarried thereinafter being processed. The trailing side edge of each tr-ay.is;provide.d

intermediate :its flength with an upstanding lug M which is aidapt-ed toengagezagplate.tot'drop it .into the tray-at anappropriate pointoftheturningecycle of the radial .-.=arm 33 :to which the tray --isattached.

Therotating circular table N is :provided onits flipper t-face-with :anannular :rib .46 having an :inclined upper surface or seat s41, whichseat is a bored to gprovide-arpair of solutionports 48, each of whichhave connected to them a spoutflfi to trayrai. Thenon-rotating seat 4?.The rim 5| is ported at intervals to progressively register with each ofthe ports 48 as the table rotates below the disk. The ports of the rim5! are indicated, Figure 2, by the respective numeral 53, 54, 55, 56,51, 58, 59 and 60, the ports 54, 58, 58 and 60 being connected by amanifold 6! from a source of water supply. The port 53 is directlyconnected to the outlet of a developer tank 62, see Figures 1 and 2; theport 55 is connected by a pipe 63 from a source of bleaching solution;the port 51 is connected by a pipe 64 to a source of clearing solution,and the port 59 is connected by a pipe 65 to a source of redeveloping ortoning solution. Intermediate adjacent ports 53 to 69 and also beyondthe port 60, arms 66 are secured to the disk 2|, all of which dependover the rim of the table 29 and terminate in an outwardly extendingmember 61 which projects into the path of the vertical arm 39 on eachtray, so that as each arm 66 is struck by an arm 39 the tray to whichthe said arm is attached will be tilted to discharge the liquid contentlast delivered to the tray. Below the trays a pan 68 is provided to takethe liquid discharged from said trays and pass it through a pipe 69 todischarge.

Mounted adjacent the periphery of the table 29 and in the line of thetravel of the trays, is a magazine 16, with another magazine ll securedto it by transverse members 12. The transverse members are pivotallymounted upon a vertical shaft 13. A rearwardly extending arm 14 isprovided on one of the members 12. A pin '15 is mounted on the extension14 and is connected by a spring 11' to an anchor rod 18 which issuitably supported from the disk 2|. Stops 80 are provided to limit theswing of the magazines and H and the spring I1 is adapted to move overthe centre of the vertical shaft 13 to hold the magazines in theposition shown in fill line in Figure 2 or in the dotted line position.

Each magazine Ill and H consists of a rectangular casing having sidewalls 82 and end walls 83, which latter extend below the side walls 82and are inturned as at 84 to engage the end marginal edges of thelowermost plate 85 in the magazine. The magazines are obviously opentopped to receive the plates, and a block 88 of greater depth than theinterspace between the inturned portions 84 of the end walls 83 and thelower extremity of the walls 82 is adapted to be placed on the platescarried by the magazine 70.

In loading the magazines for the days run, they are disposed as shown inFigure 2, so that the lug on each tray will first withdraw plates fromthe magazine 10 and when the last plate is removed therefrom and theblock 86 is seated upon the inturned portions 84, the lug 44 will engagethe block and through it rock the magazines to the dotted line positionshown in Figure 2, with the lug slipping away from the block as thespring 17 takes its load and completes the swinging movement.

A picture receiver 88 extends through a side wall of the cabinet and isgenerally disposed in the path of the trays 35. This receiver isprovided above its near side wall 89 with a horizontal stop 9t, which isadapted to be engaged by the depending arm 41 upon a passing tray toswing said tray to a position vertical to its normal plane and drop thefinished plate or photograph into said receiver, from whence it may bepicked u by the sitter.

In one or more appropriate positions adjacent the recess I0, a suitableflash lamp 92 is provided to provide the necessary illumination for 4exposure of each plate, which lamp is energized as the plate is centeredbelow the lens l5 by means of a suitable switch 93 which is mounted uponthe circular disk 2| and is tripped alternately by upstanding pins 94mounted upon the rim of the table 29.

The machine 2 is set in motion in response to the insertion of a coininto a coin lock 96 to close a suitable circuit, which is automaticallyopened again when the arms again reach the position shown in Figure 2.The coin lock is preferably placed on the front of the cabinet Iconvenient to the sitter, so that when he is seated in front of therecess in, he can reach the lock and after dropping his coin into thelock can compose him self ready for the portrait to be taken. The roomsurrounding the cabinet is preferably indirectly lighted, so that nolight falls within the recess and that the plate can be carried into itsfocal plane in the camera without fogging. When the machine is set inmotion, a tray 35, having previously been supplied with a plate from themagazine in or H, passes under the lens l5 and when in proper alignmenttherewith, one of the upstanding pins 94 trips the switch 93 to causethe flashing of the lamp 92, thus causing the exposure to be made.

When the tray is removed from under the camera body 14, the port 48 ofthe rib 46 and its spout 49 of the arm carrying the now exposed plate,comes into register with the port 53 which is in communication with thedeveloper tank 62, so that an appropriate quantity of developer, whichis maintained at a suitable temperature, is flushed over the plate todevelop it. As soon as the primary development is completed, an arm 66is engaged by the upstanding arm 39 of said tray 35 and is tilted tospill the spent developer into the pan 68 and as the arm 39 slips offthe arm 66 the tray returns, under the influence of the spring 38 tolevel position and the port 48 moves into register with the water port54, so that washing water will rinse the adherent developer from theplate. This sequence of tray movements will be repeated and the port 48will progressively move into and out of register with the remaining diskports 55 to 60, causing bleaching solution to be applied to the plate,discharged therefrom, washing water to be applied and discharged, nextclearing solution, then water, then redeveloping or toning solution anda final wash water which completes the processing of the plate. As thetray moves beyond the final washing position, its depending arm 4!engages the stop 90, causing the tray to turn over far enough to dropthe plate into the delivery receiver 88, thus completing the cycle anddisposing the finished plate or portrait to be picked up by the sitter.

Prior to the delivery of the plate to the receiver, the tray on theopposing arm 33 passes under the magazine 10 and in so doing, slides anunexposed plate therefrom, which drops into the tray ready for themachine to be again operated.

It will be obvious that the movement of the trays is relatively slow toprovide time for the various chemical functions to take place, and thata person may pose for his portrait and after the exposure pass leisurelyaround to the back of the machine to watch the final machine movementsand the toning of the portrait through the window 8, before it isdeposited in the receiver 88.

What We claim as our invention:

1. In a photographic machine of the class described, a table with an armadapted to be roassume tated about a vertical axis for the exposure anddevelopment of a sensitized photographic plate, a tray tilta'bly carriedby said arm and adapted to receivea sensitized plate, a stationary diskin face-to-faceengagement with the table, said disk having 'apluraiityof liquid ports arranged concentrically of the rotary axis of saidtable, each portcommunicating with a source oi liquid, said table havinga conduit in liquid-delivery'rclation with the tray moving intoregistry'with successive ports of the disk as the tablerotates for thedelivery of the respective liquids into said tray.

2. In a photographic machine of thee-lass described, a table with an armadapted to be rotated about a vertical "axis for the exposure-anddevelopment of 'a'sensitized pho'tographicp-late, a 'tray tiltably'mounted on said arm and adapted to receive a sensitizedpl ate, astationary disk having an annular rim on one side, said table having anannular rim in iace-to-fa-ce engage ment'wi-th the disk rim, said diskrim having a pluralityof liquid ports arranged concentrically of therotary axis of the table and in communication with sources of solutionsand water, respectively, said table rim having a conduit in liquiddelivery relation with the tray moving into registry with the successivedisk ports asthe table rotates.

3. In a photographic machine of the class described, a table with an armadapted to be rotatedabout "a vertical axis for the exposure anddevelopment of a sensitized photographic plate", a tray tiltably mountedon said arm and adapted to receive a sensitized plate, a stationary diskhaving an annular rim on one side, said table having an annular rim inface-to-face engagement with the disk rim, said disk rim having aplurality of liquid ports arranged concentrically of the rotary axis ofthe table and in communication with sources ofsolution and water,respectively, said table rim having a conduit in liquiddelivery relationwith the tray moving into registry with the successive disk ports as thetable rotates, the engaging faces of'said rims being inclined in theform of a truncated cone.

4. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding asupply of stacked photographic plates of which thebottom-most plate is edgew-ise removable,

and a plate support movable from said magazine edgewise'of theplatestherein to and beyond said exposure station and tilta'ble from asubstantially horizontal normal disposition for dropping a platetherefrom, said support having an upward projection on its trailing endvfor engaging and pushing the bottom-most'pl'ate from said magazine ontosaid support on movement of the latter in its normal disposition away'from said magazine.

5. In hotographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe bottom-most plate is e'dgewise removable,

and an open-top tray capable of holding liquid and being movable fromsaid magazine edgewise of the plates therein to and beyond said exposurestation and tiltable from a substantially horizontal normal dispositionto drop" a plate therefrom, said tray having a trailing upwardprojection at it's open top for engaging and pushing the bottom-mostplate from said magazine into said tray-on movement of the latter in itsnormal disposition awayf-rom said magazine.

posure station, an upright magazine for -ho1ding asupply of stackedphotographic plates of which the bottom-most plate is edgewiseremovable, and a plurality of plate supports movable in unison in onedirection in an endless path past "said magazine ed'gewise of the platestherein and past said exposur'e station and being spaced from each otherin-the direction of said path, each support being ti-ltable from asubstantially horizontal normal disposition for dropping a platetherefrom, and having an upward projection on its trailing end forengaging and pushing the bottom-most pl-ate'from said magazine onto saidsupport on movement of the latter in its normal disposition past saidmagazine,

'7. In photographic apparatus having an ex posures'tation, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe bottom-most plate is edgewise removable, anda plurality of open-toptrays'capable of holding liquid and movable in unison in one directionin an endless path past said magazine edgewise of the plates-therein andpast said exposure station and being spaced from each other in thedirection of said path, each tray being 'tiltablc from a substantiallyhorizontal normal disposition for dropping a plate therefrom, and havinga trailing upward projection at its open top for engaging and pushingthebottom-most plate rrom said magazine into said tray on movement of thelatter in its normal disposition past said magazine.

8'. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, spaced liquid dispensers, anopen-top tray normall-y in a substantially horizontal disposition 'arrdmovable from said magazine edgewise ofthe plates therein through saidexposure station and successively past said dispensers inliquid-receiving relation therewith, said tray having a trailing upwardprojection at its open top for engaging and pushing the lowermost platefrom said magazine into said tray on movement "of the latter in itsnormal dis-position away from said magazine, said tray being alsotiltable from its normal disposition for draining liquid therefrom, andmeans for so tilting said tray after passing each dispenser.

9. In photographic apparatus having an exposuie station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates 'of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, spaced liquid dispensers, anopen-top tray normally a substantially horizontal disposition andmovable from said magazine e'dgewise of the pl'atesthere'in through saidexposure station and successively past said dispensers inliquid-receivrelation therewith, said tray having a trailing upwardprojection at its open top for engaging and pushing the lowermost platefrom said magazine into said tray on movement of the latter in its"normal disposition away from said magazine,

F said tray being also tiltable from its normal disposition into firstand second positions for drain"- in'g' liquid therefrom and for droppinga plate therefrom, respectively, means for tilting said tray into saidfirst position when moving between consecutive dispensers, respectively,and means for tiltin'gisaid tray into said second position after passingthe last dispenser.

' 10. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine holding a 6. In photographic apparatus having an exsupply ofstacked photographic plates of which the bottom-most plate is edgewiseremovable, and an open-top tray movable from said magazine edgewise ofthe plates therein to and beyond said exposure station and tiltable froma substantially horizontal normal disposition, said tray having atrailing lug projecting upwardly from the open top thereof so that thebottom-most plate in said magazine is edgewise in the path of said lug,and is pushed by the latter from said magazine into said tray when thelatter is moved in its normal disposition away from said magazine.

11. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, and a plate support movablein one direction in an endless path past said magazine edgewise of theplates therein and past said exposure station, and being tiltable from asubstantially horizontal normal disposition for dropping a platetherefrom, said support having an upward projection on its trailing endfor engaging and pushing the lower-most plate from said magazine ontosaid support on movement of the latter in its normal disposition awayfrom said magazine.

12. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, and an open-top tray capableof holding liquid and being movable in one direction in an endless pathpast said magazine edgewise of the plates therein and past said exposurestation, and being tiltable from a substantially horizontal normaldisposition for dropping a plate therefrom, said tray having a trailingupward projection at its open top for engaging and pushing thelower-most plate from said magazine into said tray on movement of thelatter in its normal disposition away from said magazine.

13. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, spaced liquid dispensers, anopen-top tray normally in substantially horizontal disposition andmovable in one direction in an endless path past said magazine edgewiseof the plates therein through said exposure station and thensuccessively past said dispensers for bringing an exposed plate in saidtray into liquid-receiving relation with said dispensers, said trayhaving a trailing upward projection at its open top for engaging andpushing the lower-most plate from said magazine and into said tray onmovement of the latter in its normal disposition past said magazine,said tray being also tiltable from its normal disposition for drainingliquid therefrom, and means for so tilting said tray after passing eachdispenser.

14. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, spaced liquid dispensers, anopen-top tray normally in a substantially horizontal disposition andmovable in one direction in an endless path past said magazine edgewiseof the plates therein, thence through said exposure station and thensuccessively past said dispensers for bringing an exposed plate in saidtray into liquid-receiving relation with said dispensers, said trayhaving a trailing upward projection at its open top for engaging andpushing the lower-most plate from said magazine and into said tray onmovement of the latter in its normal disposition past said magazine,said tray beingalso tiltable from its normal disposition into first andsecond positions for draining liquid therefrom and for dropping a platetherefrom, respectively, means for tilting said tray into said firstposition when moving between consecutive dispensers, respectively, andmeans for tilting said tray into said second position after passing thelast dispenser.

15. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, spaced liquid dispensers, aplurality of open-top trays normally in a substantially horizontaldisposition and movable in unison in one direction in an endless pathpast said magazine edgewise of the plate therein, thence through saidexposure station and then successively past said dispensers for bringingexposed plates in said trays into liquid-receiving relation with saiddispensers, said trays being spaced from each other in the direction ofsaid path and each tray having a trailing upward projection at its opentop for engaging and pushing the lower-most plate from said magazine andinto said tray on movement of the latter in its normal disposition pastsaid magazine, each tray being also tiltable from its normal dispositionfor draining liquid therefrom, and means for so tilting each tray afterpassing each dispenser.

16. In photographic apparatus having an exposure station, an uprightmagazine for holding a supply of stacked photographic plates of whichthe lower-most plate is edgewise removable, spaced liquid dispensers, aplurality of open-top trays normally in substantially horizontaldisposition and movable in unison in one direction in an endless pathpast said magazine edgewise of the plates therein, thence through saidexposure station and then successively past said dispensers for bringingexposed plates in said trays into liquid-receiving relation with saiddispensers, said trays being spaced from each other in the direction ofsaid path and each tray having a trailing upward projection at its opentop for engaging and pushing the lowermost plate from said magazine andinto said tray on movement of the latter in its normal disposition pastsaid magazine, each tray being also tiltable from its normal dispositioninto first and second positions for draining liquid therefrom and forejecting a plate therefrom, respectively, means for tilting each trayinto said first position when moving between consecutive dispensers,respectively, and means for tilting each tray into said second positionafter passing the last dispenser.

RODGER WILLIAM DART. SYDNEY JENKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

